Afterlife Department

"Zhuo Xia, age 19 when he died… tsk, tsk. He is too young." Huo Ling shook his head in sympathy as he read Zhuo Xia's biography. "Also, an orphan." He sighed.

"He is more miserable than you." Yi Bing can't help but comment when he remembered that Huo Ling always died at the age of 23, and also an orphan.

Huo Ling raised his head and glared at him. "You still want to make fun of me?!" he asked.

Yi Bing looked away and just gazed outside at the scenery while they ride on a boat. Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai saw that Yi Bing remained silent while Huo Ling reviewed his assignment's biography. They conscientiously read their assignments' biographies, too.

Huo Ling can't help but sigh again as he read further Zhuo Xia's biography. Zhuo Xia actually was born into a wealthy household. But, suddenly, in just one night, his whole family was massacred. He became orphan in just a night. His family's friends, however, didn't take him in.

It was really ironic how can you have so many friends during your success, but no one when you fell. One of this example is the Zhuo family. They have many friends when they were alive because they were wealthy. Yet, no one stepped forward to shelter Zhuo Xia that was left behind after his whole family died.

The hypocrisy of humans. Huo Ling thought and clicked his tongue in anger.

Yi Bing glanced at Huo Ling and saw him sneered but he didn't say anything. Humans… they are very complicated beings like how complex emotions are, since emotions affect them but they also were the ones who produce various emotions. One moment, two people are drinking and merrily laughing. But, the next moment, both of them wanted to kill each other.

What he wanted to say is that, humans can change their faces at a drop of a hat. Nothing is permanent in this world, aside from change. Not even the time, much less the emotions. It may took one moment to fall in love with someone and you will promise a lifetime of love. But, it would also take just one moment for them to be attracted to others and might take a lifetime, too, to cheat you with them.

Humans are unpredictable creatures, thus they are very difficult to understand. Emotions are complicated because there are many variables that can affect them to change. This can be said to the Zhuo family. Humans only wanted what's beneficial to them thus they made friends with the Zhuo family, to the point of marrying each other's family.

But, what happened after the Zhuo family was massacred? They cut ties with them as soon as the Zhuo family's lives were also cut off. They didn't even care about Zhuo Xia that was the only left. After all, the Zhuo family was no more, so what does Zhuo Xia now worth of? Nothing. Just another orphan. This is sad and cruel, but this is how life is – dramatic.

One moment you are in heaven, but one night after you fell into hell. What around you was abyss that you can never escape.

"Ehem. Young sirs, where do you want to go?" the boatman asked them, breaking the trail of their thoughts.

Huo Ling turned. "Can you take us to the Zhuo family?" he asked.

"Which Zhuo family was it?" the boatman asked. There were many families that were surnamed Zhuo.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing know this. "Whichever that is the nearest." Yi Bing carelessly said.

"Okay!" the boatman answered.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai heard that Yi Bing's and Huo Ling's destination was already decided.

"Where shall we head to?" Shi Yi asked Qian San.

Qian San pondered. "Hmm… our targets are disciples of the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain so we have to start there first." He said.

"Where is it located?" Wu Ling asked.

Qi Bai took out a map he bought from one of the vendors' stall earlier. "Old man, which town are we in?" he asked the boatman.

"Hm? Are young sirs lost after playing? This is the Cuiyi Town!" the boatman answered.

"'Cuiyi'… damn ancient characters." Qi Bai cursed and passed the map to Shi Yi who almost dropped it in the water.

"… can't we just ask the boatman?" Shi Yi suggested.

"What we are doing should be incognito. Don't you remember how perceptive the natives of this world are?" Qi Bai rolled his eyes at him.

"How about we get off where senior Yi and his apprentice get off?" Wu Ling suggested.

"You have a point." Shi Yi agreed.

"Would it be okay, though?" Qi Bai asked and glanced at Yi Bing.

Shi Yi and Wu Ling fell silent. They know how cold and distant Yi Bing is, just like a white moonlight.

"It should be." Qian San assured them. "Let me see the map." He spoke.

Shi Yi gave him the map. "But… didn't Huo Ling also ask the boatman about the Zhuo family, which is related to his assignment?" he asked.

"Oh. You're right." Wu Ling nodded.

As if he sensed they are speaking about him, Huo Ling turned. "Hm? Seniors, where is your destination?" he asked when he remembered that these four also have their own tasks.

"The Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain." Qian San answered.

"Huh? 'Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain'? Such a long name!" Huo Ling said.

"What?! You want to go to Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain?!" the boatman exclaimed as he turned to them.

They looked at him. "Old man, is there something wrong?" Wu Ling asked.

"Of course, there is! The Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain is currently sealed!" the boatman told them.

Their eyes widened in shock. "WHAT?!" they exclaimed. What the hell… we are just about to start yet our path was already cut off?! Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai thought with dark faces.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing were also taken aback. "You…" Yi Bing muttered and pondered what to say. He should encourage them as seniors. "There are many ways to solve a problem, so don't focus in only one solution." He told them.

Qian San, the most cool-headed of the four of them, immediately recovered his expression. "Thank you, senior Yi." He sincerely smiled.

"En." Yi Bing just nodded. He just can't ignore them.

He, as a senior, and the most senior, grim reaper, knows how dangerous wuxia, xianxia, supernatural, fantasy, and interstellar worlds. These worlds contain more world energy than any other worlds for they have other beings aside from humans, animals and plants. So, the natives of these worlds are more sensitive to energies.

In wuxia and xianxia, they can feel their own and the others' qi, as well as spiritual attacks. In supernatural and fantasy worlds, the existence of other beings were sustained by the world energy, and the natives also use energy to attack others, and defend and heal themselves. As for interstellar world, the human evolution made the human race more sensible to energy and they can even use it to strengthen their mind, body and spirit.

They just got lucky in the interstellar world since Shou Ji was there for it was the world where he came from. Huo Ling is also lucky since he hasn't gone to a xianxia world yet. In the supernatural world, it was a close call, though.

"Why was the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain sealed off?" Qi Bai asked the boatman.

"No one knows." The boatman shrugged as he continued rowing. "Everyone, both of the martial world and ordinary people, were shocked, too." He told them. "Eh? Young sirs, this matter is very sensational yet you didn't hear it? May I ask, where are you sirs came from?" he asked them.

But, he didn't hear them answer. Maybe they were too shocked of what they heard, or that they don't have an interest to answer his question.

"Aio!" the boatman exclaimed and resumed rowing his boat. "This stupid mouth!" he said and slapped his mouth. He forgot that not everyone is simple as they looked, especially these good-looking young masters who looked carefree at first glance aside from the one who looked cold.

Could they actually be disciples of Clear Spring Lake Sect? But, if they are, he should have heard them having handsome disciples. Yet, there was no news. Then… did they come from the Ruojian Valley? The boatman thought and subconsciously shivered. No, no… they couldn't be. They didn't behead him after asking such an insensitive question.

But, if they aren't from the Ruojian Valley, where could they have come from? These four people are too good-looking just to be overlooked. Yet, no one spoke of them. Wait – he thought when an idea flashed in his mind. There is one place, aside from the Ruojian Valley, which its members are very mysterious!

It's the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain! But, they just asked about the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain. Could it be that they have left and returned just now?